August Visitors Part 2

Introducing my great friend from the north, Megan, who managed to escape the claws of corporate life to goof around with me in Colorado for a big, fat four days!  Thanks to her amazing camera and observant eyes, we had many photos to remember time together (I'm not always the best at remembering)!   

Megan documenting her first taste of what Colorado does best: beer. 
Megan tried the "Wixa Weiss" and for me the "Mile HiPA."
Wyncoop Brewery, Denver. 

Megan arrived at the Denver International airport around 8:30 AM on a sunny, hot Thursday morning. Since we had the whole day ahead of us, we relaxed and chit chatted over some homemade blueberry coffee cake and a round of coffee before driving to downtown to explore the iconic 16th Street Mall. The sun was brutal that day, so we stopped in various shady tourist stops, such as the Union Station, bookstores, The Wyncoop Brewery, and eventually settled for a modern-Mexican lunch at "Tamayo" located within Larimer Square. Tamayo's fine-dining atmosphere (air conditioning, modern art, comfortable chairs, and quiet chatter between small groups of people wearing suites) was just the escape we needed from the sizzling hot, busy sidewalks we came from. 

The top of our 16th Street Mall tour. 

Tamayo, Larmier Square.
Picture from: http://www.westword.com/bestof/2003/award/best-high-end-mexican-38468/

Later that day, Joe met up with us after work and we all traveled to Uptown for happy hour and dinner at Steuben's Restaurant!  You may recognize this place from the pictures that I posted from my family's visit to Denver. Yep, it has become a must-see! Vintage cocktails and comfort food, served with a side of humor. What more could you ask for? 

Introducing Meg to my favorite vintage drink to sip: Moscow mules!
Dreaming that someday these copper mugs will be in my cabinets... 

And did I mention we know how to celebrate?
We ordered a flaming volcano brimming with fruit and liquor
known as, "The Scorpion Bowl" for the table to share.
Lesson of the night: Do not drink the flammable liquid on top!

A gal that Megan studied abroad with in Spain ended up making
dinner that night as well, so there were just enough straws to go around!

If Day One wasn't already busy enough, we made the most of our time during Day Two as well! That morning we packed water and a change of clothes and headed to Boulder for some morning hiking and Old Pearl Street shopping, only to be followed by driving to Fort Collins for the evening. By the time we reached the trailhead for our hike, it was nearly 11:00 AM and the sun (once again) was quite strong. With lunch hour fast approaching we decided to hike out until we were ready to turn around and hunt for food. We managed to stumble upon a trail called, "The Flatironette."It wound up and around rocks and trees until we ended up with a spectacular view of the 1st Flatiron face, the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, and a bird's-eye view of Boulder below. 

There wasn't a cloud to be found that morning.
Flatirons from Baseline Road, Boulder, CO.

Beginning our hike at the Chautauqua Trailhead. 

Perhaps the best group shot at the scenic turnaround point of our hike.
Searching for a safe rock to balance the camera was a bit tricky!

Bouldering in Boulder.

Upon finishing our hike and parking near Old Pearl Street, we were feeling so famished that we walked right up to the first restaurant we encountered and ordered lunch! It was an Italian place and we both thought the lunch special sounded appetizing. We enjoyed Eggplant Parmesan sandwiches, garden salads, and glass of wine for only $10 each. The service was a bit slow, but what can you expect in one of the most relaxed cities around? Later that day we realized we were so focused on the food that we forgot to note the name of the restaurant! For the record it was, "Trattoria On Pearl." 

Enjoying the shade with the last few sips of our wine at the Trattoria.

Walnut Brewery for some afternoon quenchers? Why not?

They provided a sampler deal that we couldn't refuse.
You can tell by the levels of beer in the glasses which tastes we liked the best.
At one point Megan began to mix some of her less-than favorite brews in hopes
of diluting some of the bitter hops. Fail. We also failed at making black
and tans from the porter and lager samples!

For one last hurrah in Boulder, we stopped at the Red Stone Meadery for
complementary tastes and lessons about fermented honey.
Mead tasted like wine of the Gods! It is slightly sweet and effervescent,
with some varieties having a specific fruit flavor (like blackberries)!   

Megan with her tasty souvenirs to take home, including
mead-filled chocolates and some neat glassware.

We arrived in Fort Collins around 6:00 PM, after getting a bit turned around trying to find Jennifer and Brandon's new cottage in the outskirts of the town.  This included walking into someone else's home and chasing two dogs back into the premises as we realized we were at the wrong residence! (YIKES)!  The cottage was beautiful and Jennifer was nice enough to let Megan and I freshen up and spend time admiring the rustic scenes of the foothills from their back porch. We were so comfortable, in fact, that we lost track of time and in a hurry we were out the door and off to the streets of downtown Fort Collins to see a music festival and meet up with some other gals. 

Envious views from Jennifer's back porch. 

Arriving at the Bohemian Nights free music fest, featuring "G. Love and Special Sauce."
We were terribly disappointed when the vendors had closed down for the day.
We could have really gone for some fried cheese! 

The lovely group of music fest attenders! Right to left:
Jennifer, Megan, Julie (a good friend of Jennifer's, also from Madison, WI),
 and Julie's sister.  Soon after this picture was taken the gathering
crowds became hungry to get close to the stage and the group was separated.
Megan and I left before too late to make the dark drive home,
only to have a late dinner before surrendering to sleep.

Day Three was spent driving west to visit a couple of the state's most cherished mountain towns: Crested Butte and Breckenridge. Joe volunteered to be the driver for entire trip! I was thankful that he could come along for the adventure, and also because driving a manual through unpredictable mountainous highways tends to displace my heart into my throat. We left Denver around 6:30 AM, stopped in Buena Vista for a restroom, coffee, and sugar fix, and then continued to Crested Butte's visitors center to pick up a few hiking trail maps.  We hiked, ate and then had to move on towards Breckenridge...

Buying some local cherries at a nearby fruit stand that was located
in the visitor's center parking lot in Crested Butte. 

Ready, yet again, for a memorable hike.
This time, instead of red rocks, we got to admire sprawling, lush
meadows blooming with wildflowers as we traveled
 along the Copper Creek Trail near Gothic Mountain.
This was when Joe and I realized we needed to return the
following weekend for an extended camping/hiking trip
(see "Playing with Fire" blog entry).

About 30 minutes into our hike we encountered this gushing waterfall,
known as "Judd Falls."  This was our cue to return to the car.
It was hard to leave despite grumbling tummies.  

Roaming downtown Crested Butte in search of the perfect lunch spot
and admiring their many unique benches!  This moment was
dedicated to our friend, Kelly, who loves photographing benches.
We wished she could have joined us!

The Sunflower Deli.
Serving up seriously-delicious, gourmet sandwiches.

A sunny back patio allowed us to continue enjoying
 the beautiful weather as we waited for our lunches.
I loved the yellow umbrellas. They almost resemble sunflowers! 

Upon reaching our final destination of the day, Breckenrigde, it was 5:45 PM. Since we had a late lunch, we weren't in a hurry to find food just yet, so we wandered main street and looked for Colorado memorabilia. Along the way we stopped for a few craft liquor tastings made by the "Breckenridge Distillery".     

Looking the part.

I can't say either of us really enjoyed sipping straight liquor
from tiny plastic cups without something sweet/salty to follow up with,
but then we got to try their chocolate variety! It is so special we had to share. 

One taste of this and we were both seduced.
We were both flirting with the idea of purchasing their last bottle,
but Megan realized she could't check it onto her returning flight
and I couldn't justify such a luxurious expense.
So we will just have to return this winter during ski season!

Cheers to our last moments in Breckenridge!
We stopped here, at the "Kenosha Steakhouse," for some
appetizers and Breckenridge brews before enduring the long drive home.
I think all three of us felt like kids that perhaps played a bit too much...
but in the best, most fulfilling way!   

The next morning we slept in a bit after trying to pack as much excitement into four days as humanly possible. We slowly meandered to a nearby breakfast place, "Snooze," for some pancakes and eggs benedict. Despite the great brunch, the last meal is always hard to stomach since good-byes are just around the corner. However, great friends never stay apart for long and I'll be visiting Megan in Minneapolis this October. Lets hope September passes in a jiffy! I miss you already! 

Even though we change and we're all finding our won place in the world,
we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face,
we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us,
nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not still friends.
~Quote forwarded from Megan. <3

July Visitors

What a sensational Independence Day weekend!  I slept in until almost 10:00 AM this morning, waking up feeling like an kid who was tuckered out from a big dose of play. 

My family flew down for a Denver visit packed full of sight seeing, beer tasting, restaurant exploring, firework gawking, and mountain driving. Truth be told, my first impressions from earlier this month of the downtown district was that it lacked a certain vibrance that Minneapolis and Madison seem to hold. However, after a few short days with Team Nuss I have gained a newfound appreciation for the area.  For example, there are brick building flanked with painted advertisements that date back to the early 18th century; there are tap rooms and breweries pulled away from the hot sidewalks that are gorged with various beers by the barrel; there are small bike-repair shops and bookstores that have unadvertised coffee bars. Perhaps I was a bit quick to make my assumptions about the city. A few of my favorite memories from the weekend are shared in the pictures to follow... 

Making the hot journey across Denver's concrete jungle
to a watering hole.  Hello refreshing beers at
the Great Divide Brewery!

Cheers to these wonderful urban explorers. It's a keeper.

We went with the 3 for $3 samplers that were served in these
fun glasses. In the end, I think we managed to sample
each of their beers on tap, including ones
that weren't listed on the menu. 

Brewery tour shenanigans...

Drinking beer while learning about beer is probably
the best way to approach brewery tours.
Good thinking, Mickie.

Who would have thought the brewers to be such creative
artisans too. This is a funny picture we found
hanging behind a door (I guess we were really paying
attention to the tour guide).

Joe joined us for dinner at one of our favorite
Uptown restaurants.  Joe and I found this place our first
weekend to Denver and decided it would make a good
first for the family as well. We got outdoor seating
and stuff-yourself-silly grub.

What are in those copper mugs that everyone seems to be
drinking? Why, its a moscow mule of course!
An oldie but a goodie that the mixologists at Steuben's
brought back from the 50's. Apparently the copper mug
keeps the lime zesty and the cocktail consists of vodka
and ginger beer on ice. According to our server, this drink
created a good way to use up excess ginger beer
(a popular drink during prohibition) and the name comes
from the common thought that vodka is a Russian product.
We went with multiple straws so that everyone could get a taste.  

We spotted one of those rare, giant blue bears that roam
wild in Denver. This one looks hungry... 

The Bike Doctor hooked us up with four bikes for the
weekend. Walking would have made it too difficult to
see everything we were hoping to see in the big city.
We are on Wynkoop Street (Coor's Field in the background)
trying to find some cold beer. It was another
summer day in the 90's. Where was this heat coming from?

The Falling Rock Tap House.
We had high hopes from the internet reviews
on this place, for example that they carry
~100 beers on tap daily. Maybe it was the heat but
this place was even better than we could have imagined.
We sat in unoccupied leather couches and watched the
 Rockies vs. Royals game with cool air and frosty, strong beer. 

Look! Dad is on TV!!

More wild animals roaming the streets.
Mike, pick on someone your own size will ya! 

Dinner at the Appaloosa Grill on 16th Street Mall.
What a good looking crew.

Fireworks show accompanied by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.
Having our bikes for this was awesome (no parking mess).
Finding 3D glasses was even more awesome.

Estes Park, Trail Ridge Road on Independence Day.
You can't leave Colorado without experiencing the Rockies.

We stopped for a late lunch in Lyons on our way to Boulder.
 It was a funky joint in a small town but I will recommend
it to anyone I know going to the Estes area. They had massive
portions and delicious beer (they brew Oskar Blues). I had a pint
of "The Gubna" and this was probably my favorite beer of the
weekend.  Come to find out mid pint its about 10% alcohol... wow,
food coma + altitude + strong beer = deep desire to nap. 

Mike finishing the massive stuffed burrito.
In my opinion there should have been streamers and balloons,
or at least a pat on the back from the waitress.
Good thing mom got him this t-shirt that says, "Chub It"
below the flying pig (referring to their "Old Chub" scotch ale).   

Taking a stroll down Old Pearl Street in Boulder.
All of these adventures in three days... no wonder we were pooped out!

Come back soon!

Looking back, I can't really describe what exactly I thought Denver was missing. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the 16th Street Mall (the iconic main street connecting Civic Center Park to the Union Station) is flanked with commercial shops and restaurants, like the Cheesecake Factory and Forever 21. Where are the Denver originals? Where can I experience something unique to this downtown that I can't find in another metropolis? Market Street and Larimer Street, which cross 16th Street towards the north end, seemed to be teaming with unique dining spots and boutiques, but with a voracious cost!  Wow. Does this make me a pessimist? Have I turned into a dining snob? Today I just read an article in the Westward magazine about Theo Adley, the chef at the Pinyon in Boulder, and it made me chuckle. He discussed this very issue with Denver's food scene:

"Being called "America's Foodiest Town" by Bon Appetit was the biggest disservice ever paid to the Boulder/Denver dining scene... I think the title has made us complacent. It made everyone feel so f***ing good comfy... Most people shop at farmers' markets to show off their dogs, not because they actually want to stock up on food..."

Maybe I wasn't crazy to think there should be more chefs like Theo. I scribbled "Pinyon" on my list of restaurants to try before the end of the year. 

Other reviews from Denver "foodies" that may provide as a decent road map for an introduction to dining in the Mile High City.  

Ice Wine at Wollersheim

Yesterday afternoon, three curious ladies drove north of town to the quaint vineyards of Wollersheim to taste a reserved wine known as "ice wine".

Happy Winers
Emily, Emily and Andrea

With a complementary tasting ticket we got to wander upstairs to a small room filled with rosy cheeks, harp music, and small plastic cups containing the curious liquid. After a few small sips we concluded that ice wine resembles a sweet cough syrup. Ew. This was so disappointing given how labor intensive it is to prepare! The grapes need to remain on the vines until frozen at 5-10 degrees. Harvest usually occurs mid-December in snowy conditions. The grapes must be picked frozen and pressed frozen according to ice wine protocol. I really like the idea and the unique tradition behind making this wine. Perhaps it requires more than a few quick sips to get to know this sweet, thick drink, or a thoughtful food pairing to balance the flavors. I can imagine it might be quite good as a dessert wine paired with dry cheeses and fruit spreads.

I bought a bottle of cranberry wine, recommended by Andrea, and the three of us sat in the grass and watched the crisp, golden sun slowly dip behind the beautiful Wisconsin country side. Just a blink and we were in Tuscany (minus the creepy Italian tress)!

Wollersheim Vineyards.
Future harvests.